Writing Hazards

Ian R Huckin

I am afraid I cannot condone the teaching of italic writing. My handwriting looks like a spider has run out of the inkwell, all due to the teaching of said 'skill'! My take on this is: Why write by hand when the computer does it quicker and better and can check for smelling pistakes? I wanted to be a Doctor, but my handwriting was too bad! And I thought it was a prerequisite!! Now the arthritis has hit in, no chance of learning it anyway.

My first pens were dipped in ink, along with my fingers. I eventually got an Osmiroid fountain pen for 6/- which was eventually replaced by cartridge pens, then ballpoints (Biros). These had been superceded by felt tips as the instruments of the devil! These in turn have been replaced by CGTs. I cannot see us going back to dipped quills. What next? Will we be looking to bring back glyphs? Sharpen my chisel and smooth my rock someone!

It is called evolution. We all evolve and each generation will look back to say "Those were the good old days." I do. Having said that, I have one word of caution - Someone once said "Those who fail to learn from history are destined to repeat it."

I live in the present, but like to remember the past and look to the future. I suppose that is why we are all tracing our trees - to learn from history. For certain hereditary medical conditions, the knowledge gleaned from research is invaluable. Maybe future history books (an oxymoron I know!) will benefit from the revelations we uncover.

Incidentally, anyone see the article in the Oxford Times last week (17th June), about the discovery of Aspirin? The discoveror was a vicar (Edward Stone) who lived in Chipping Norton, who used locals as guinea pigs. Most people I told this to, prior to this publication, assumed it to be folklore. I told them I told them so!